More information: John Mitchell (It Bites, Arena, Kino, Frost) is a man with a rich musical heritage and history - from musician and vocalist, to songwriter and producer. So it’s no great surprise to find him as the mastermind behind a new project called Lonely Robot. Mitchell had long thought about embarking on a project like this, and when he found a break in his schedule due to plans for the next It Bites album being delayed, he finally took the opportunity.

There are 11 songs in total, with the versatile Mitchell handling much of the instrumental performance and vocals himself, but he also lined up some intriguing musical talents to guest on it. John comments:

"Craig Blundell does all the drums, and Marillion's vocalist Steve 'H' Hogarth performs on two songs, providing backing vocals, although his main contribution is playing the piano, which he does with such a delicate feel. Kim Seviour from Touchstone sings on one track called ‘Oubliette’, and Heather Findlay (ex Mostly Autumn) and I duet on a song entitled ‘Why Do We Stay’. Perhaps a surprise inclusion on the album is Go West lead singer Peter Cox, but I felt his dusty baritone would suit my track ‘The Boy in the Radio’ perfectly. Nik Kershaw contributes a guitar solo for the track ‘Humans Being’, and good friend and keyboard player Jem Godfrey of Frost* fame adds his unique musical treatment to two tracks, including the title ’Lonely Robot’, with Nick Beggs playing bass and his signature Chapman Stick on a few other songs. Renowned English actor Lee Ingleby provides narration to the album."

"The concept is about the way in which some ancient civilisations – for instance, the Mayans, the Egyptians and the Chinese – had technology way beyond what they should have had at the time. And I'm talking about the millennium up to 1000AD. It’s as if some people had been transplanted onto the planet from another world and time.